10 Best Rock Songs of 2013

The best rock songs of 2013 come from a diverse group of artists, with several veteran acts taking the spotlight this year. Bands like Alice in Chains, Korn, AFI and Bad Religion all proved that they're still thriving after 20-plus years in the game. Meanwhile, acts like Avenged Sevenfold and Stone Sour, who've dominated the 2000s, continued to reign in 2013. We had some very tough choices to make in narrowing the standout tunes of 2013 down to a list of the 10 finest, but we feel like these tracks stood out among the rest. Check out our list of the 10 Best Rock Songs of 2013 below:

10

'Earth Rocker'

Clutch

From: 'Earth Rocker'

With the title track off their critically acclaimed album 'Earth Rocker,' Clutch deliver a throwback rock anthem. The song features blistering guitars and a monstrous vocal from frontman Neil Fallon. The tune is pure aggression and pure rock 'n' roll from beginning to end.

9

'There's No Going Back'

Sick Puppies

From: 'Connect'

Sick Puppies know a thing or two about creating rock radio hits, and 'There's No Going Back' is among the band's most infectious tunes ever. The lead single off their 'Connect' album features a call-and-response chorus that gets stuck in your head upon first listen, making it one of the catchiest hard rock songs of the year.

8

'True North'

Bad Religion

From: 'True North'

Bad Religion have been churning out infectious and thought-provoking punk-rock songs for more than 30 years, and the title track off their 2013 album 'True North' is no exception. Despite only clocking in at 2:15, the song packs a punch and features incredibly intriguing lyrics written by frontman Greg Graffin.

7

'Hail To the King'

Avenged Sevenfold

From 'Hail to the King'

Avenged Sevenfold have their share of detractors, but there's a reason they're one of the biggest bands on the hard rock scene. Their latest disc, 'Hail to the King' is an ambitious album that delivers throwback riffs with a modern twist. The epic title track is one of the biggest rock anthems of the year.

6

'Love & Meth'

Korn

From: 'The Paradigm Shift'

Korn fans were excited when guitarist Brian 'Head' Welch officially rejoined the band in 2013, but little did they know he was working on a new album with the guys for several months. While the band released the radio friendly 'Never Never' as the first single off 'The Paradigm Shift,' it's the track 'Love & Meth' that truly captures the impact of Head's return to the band, as he and Munky deliver some soaring riffs.

5

'I Appear Missing'

Queens of the Stone Age

From: '...Like Clockwork'

Six years since the release of their previous album, Queens of the Stone Age returned to both critical acclaim and fan adoration in 2013 with the disc '... Like Clockwork.' While there's a number of standout tracks, the soaring tune 'I Appear Missing' is a perfect example of the beautiful sonic landscapes the band displays throughout the entire album.

4

'Cut Me Some Slack'

Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear

From: 'Sound City' Soundtrack

The stars aligned when Dave Grohl set out to make his 'Sound City' documentary, for which he collaborated with a number of rock luminaries, but none bigger than Paul McCartney. The former Beatle joined forces with the surviving Nirvana members on the track 'Cut Me Some Slack' and the result was nothing short of amazing.

3

'I Hope You Suffer'

AFI

From: 'Burials'

Fans got their first taste of AFI's new album 'Burials' with the track 'I Hope You Suffer,' and it was immediately clear that singer Davey Havok and company were back in a big way. The musically haunting track features one of the most powerful choruses of any song released in 2013, with Havok spilling his emotional guts into the lyrics.

2

'Hollow'

Alice In Chains

From: 'The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here'

Alice in Chains intended 'Hollow' as a preview track off 'The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here' before actually releasing an official first single. However, the song caught on quickly and rose to No. 1 on the rock singles chart -- and deservedly so. The track features Jerry Cantrell and William DuVall harmonizing over a powerful riff that harkens back to AIC's classic sound.

1

'Do Me a Favor'

Stone Sour

From: 'The House of Gold & Bones Part 2'

In April of 2013, Stone Sour hit rock fans with 'House of Gold & Bones Part 2,' continuing the triumphant musical story they began telling in 2012 with 'Part 1.' Among the standout tracks on 'Part 2' is 'Do Me a Favor,' a song that combines aggressive verses, an infectious chorus and some incredible musicianship. Corey Taylor & company did rock fans a great big favor releasing this track, which earns the No. 1 spot on our list of the 10 Best Songs of 2013.

What Is Your Favorite 2013 Rock Song?

Do you dig our list of the 10 Best Rock Songs of 2013? Which tracks do you think we missed? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.